Topical cosmetic compositions

ABSTRACT

A method of treating a person&#39;s skin is disclosed. The method can include topically applying to the skin a composition that includes an extract of Opuntia ficus-indica, water, caprylic/capric triglyceride, glycerin, Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vp copolymer, butylene glycol, ethylhexylglycerin, tocopherol or tocopheryl acetate, disodium EDTA, sodium hydroxide, caprylyl glycol, and Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 17/719,922 filed Apr. 13, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/099,248 filed Nov. 16, 2020 (now U.S.Pat. No. 11,419,815), which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/379,188 filed Apr. 9, 2019 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,870,022),which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/378,597filed Dec. 14, 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,300,009), which claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/269,509 filed Dec. 18,2015. The contents of the referenced applications are incorporated intothe present application by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A. Field of the Invention

Various skin formulations are disclosed that are structured in such away to treat a wide range of skin conditions. The formulations can beused separately or in combination in a regimen format to counteract theaging process by using Opuntia ficus-indica plant, or an extractthereof, in combination with a cosmetically acceptable vehicle.

B. Description of Related Art

Many factors contribute to skin aging such as the actual age of aperson, the amount of exposure to environmental factors (e.g., sunlight, pollution, chemicals, smoke, etc.), and how well a person hastaken care of their skin. In particular, skin aging concerns twoprocesses—intrinsic aging, which is related to the natural aging processand genetic influences, and extrinsic or accumulated damage due toenvironmental factors.

Extrinsic factors can include exposure to ultraviolet rays through sunexposure or the use of ultraviolet lamps (for example, tanning beds).Ultraviolet rays can induce oxidative stress and inflammation that leadsto skin damage. The accumulation of oxidative stress through freeradical formation, can damage skin proteins leading to skin aging, whichincludes loss of elasticity, loss of dermal proteins, lines andwrinkles, and abnormal pigmentation. Inflammation is also acharacteristic of UV and environmental damage. Inflammation can occurthrough inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-alpha), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), or enzymes thatcontribute to the inflammatory pathway such as cyclooxygenase 1,cyclooxygenase 2, and lipoxygenase. As inflammation persists, enzymessuch as matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), and matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) are involved in the breakdown dermalproteins, which allow immune cells to migrate. This breakdown in dermalproteins such as laminin and collagen can lead to skin aging such as theappearance of fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, and loss of skinelasticity.

Furthermore, when exposed to extrinsic factors such the ultra violet(UV) radiation of the sun, irritants, and pollution, the keratinocyte(outermost cell of the skin) releases signaling molecules, such asα-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and inflammatory cytokines.α-MSH can trigger melanocytes to produce melanin. The production ofmelanin can result in variations in the color of the skin. For example,a person's skin can have a sallow tone or hyperpigmented or age spots.Conventional depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone, corticosteroids,and kojic acid can raise several safety concerns (for example,ochronosis, atrophy, carcinogenesis, and other local or systemic sideeffects) with long-term exposure.

The combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors eventually leads tovisible signs of aging, and over time these signs progress through threestages—early, moderate, and advanced.

The early signs of skin aging include the first stages of visible finelines, especially around the eyes, and the beginning of uneven skintone. Cell turnover begins to slow, and this can have a dulling effecton the complexion. Collagen and elastin—while still healthy—can start tosuffer early damage, leaving skin slightly less resilient. If the matrixis left unprotected, wrinkles that are forming underneath the surface ofthe skin will eventually become more noticeable due to damage in thedermal layer. Eyes can occasionally look puffy, and pores appearslightly more noticeable. Typically, this occurs in an age range ofabout 25 to 35 years of age.

The moderate signs of skin aging include more pronounced expressionlines around the eyes, the mouth, and on the forehead. Underneath theeyes dark circles can become more noticeable. The skin's supportstructure becomes weaker as less collagen is produced, and elastinfibers begin to lose their ability to “snap” back (i.e., loss of skinelasticity). Skin loses vital moisture more easily, and dark spots canbecome more of an issue. Fine lines on the neck can become more visible,and “marionette” lines on either side of the mouth can begin to appear.More significant age spots begin to surface, eyes may look tired moreoften, and pores appear larger. This typically occurs in an age range ofabout 35 to 50 years of age.

The advanced signs of skin aging include “static” deep lines andwrinkles that are visible even when the face is at rest. The supportingstructure of collagen and elastin is severely compromised and skinsagging, especially in the cheek and jawline areas, becomes evident. Theneck shows signs of cumulative damage, with the skin becoming loose andmarked by horizontal wrinkles called “tree rings.” Dark spots becomemore prominent, and the eye area can show noticeable crepiness, sagging,puffiness and more pronounced dark circles in addition to a “drooping”upper eyelid. Skin loses its youthful volume and lift due to a loss ofnatural cushioning, and skin dryness is more pronounced as the externalbarrier is compromised, oil production slows, and internal moisturelevels drop. Cell turnover slows dramatically, and dead skin cellsremain on the skin's surface which can dull the complexion and makepores more noticeable. The thickness of the skin is also impacted, andas it becomes thinner it is more easily irritated. Typically this occursin an age range of above 50 years of age.

There have been many attempts to solve the problems associated with skinageing. By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,649,178 to Mohammadi et al.attempts to remedy the effects of stresses of climate extremes with acomposition that includes a mixture of botanical ingredients for hot,cold, and dry climate treatment. The hot climate treatment extract isused to impart a cooling effect on the skin. The cold climate treatmentextract is used to reduce skin inflammation. The dry climate treatmentextract is used to moisturize skin. With respect to the dry climateextract, a number of possible plant extracts are listed, which includeextracts of sea pine, prickly pears, orotic acid, hydrolyzed casein,hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzed conchorin protein, hydrolyzed cornprotein, hydrolyzed elastin, hydrolyzed potato protein, hydrolyzed riceprotein, hydrolyzed silk, hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheatprotein, phytoglycolipid, millet extract, sigmasterol, sitosterol,soybean sterols, canola derived sterols, campesterol, brassicasterol,and combinations thereof. As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,722,904 toSchneider et al. discloses a method for reducing the synthesis ofinterleukin-1b with Chia seed oil and/or a lipophilic extract fromOpuntia ficus-indica. However, one of the potential issues withlipophilic extracts is that they are oftentimes difficult to incorporateinto aqueous-based compositions, especially those with increased amountsof water (e.g., greater than 50 wt. %) due to the immiscibility oflipophilic and aqueous components. In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No.8,455,013 to Dumas et al. describes a cosmetic composition that includesextract of nopal as agents for stimulating epidermal kallikreins, whichregulate desquamation at the surface of the skin. U.S. PatentApplication No. 2014/0004165 to Conde describes a transparent ortranslucent hypoallergenic and non-irritating base formulation thatincludes a wide variety of components. The formulation appears to be anon-aqueous base, as the formulation is characterized as having 0 to 7%by weight of water. One of the components in the formulation can be anatural extract such as an extract from the fruit of Opuntiaficus-indica. However, no indication of the use or purpose of thisextract is mentioned in Conde.

While several of the aforementioned references provide some hope fortreating aged skin, they do not appear to effectively address theunderlying causes of skin aging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies in theart by providing stable cosmetic compositions that can be used forpurposes of anti-aging and protection against environmental stressors(e.g., UV light and/or climate). In particular, the solution resides inthe discovery that certain extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica (e.g.,Opuntia ficus-indica tuna (prickly pear fruit) and/or Opuntiaficus-indica nopal (prickly pear paddles)) can be used to modifyspecific biochemical pathways that can help address the underlyingcauses of skin aging. By way of example, it was discovered that extractsof Opuntia ficus-indica tuna and/or nopal, preferably aqueous extractsof tuna, can reduce/inhibit both tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in skin cells.TNF-alpha is a pleiotropic cytokine that is believed to play a centralrole in inflammation in skin cells. VEGF is a cytokine that stimulatesvasculogenesis and angiogenesis and is believed to contribute toinflammation in skin cells and ultimately, skin redness (e.g.,erythema), and rosacea. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it isbelieved that by simultaneously attacking both of these biochemicalpathways with a single ingredient, the underlying causes of skin agingcan be reduced, thereby resulting in skin that has a more youthfulappearance. By way of example, it is believed that topical use of theextracts of the present invention can result in skin benefits rangingfrom improved skin texture and clarity, reduced inflammation of skin,reduced erythema of skin (e.g., reduce the appearance of reddiscolorations or red blotches), evened out skin tone, reduced finelines and/or wrinkles, improved overall appearance of the area aroundthe eye, reduced appearance of spider veins (telangiectasia), and/orincreased moisture of the skin. It is also believed that alcoholic(e.g., methanol, ethanol, butanol, glycerin, and/or glycolic extractssuch as ethylene glycol), aqueous-alcoholic, and even lipophilicextracts of Opuntia ficus-indica tuna or nopales can be used to reduceTNF-alpha and/or VEGF production in skin cells. The Lipophilic extractscan be prepared by using a lipophilic solvent such as an oil (e.g.,plant oil such as sunflower plant oil, preferably sunflower seed oil).

The extracts of the present invention can be used across all skin types(e.g., dry skin, normal skin, oily skin, and combination skin). Suchextracts can be beneficial in countering the extrinsic factors of ageingby reducing inflammation through reduction of TNF-alpha productionand/or VEGF production. The extract can be beneficial in counteringageing effects caused by inflammation by promoting type I collagenproduction and inhibiting MMP3 and MMP9 enzyme activities. An increasein type I collagen production can be beneficial in reactivating theproduction of matrix proteins that are crucial for skin firmness and inreducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, glabellar frowns,crepiness and, thus, enhance skin smoothness. The Opuntia ficus-indicatuna and/or nopal extract can be mixed with the cosmetically acceptablevehicle to form an oil and water emulsion and/or a serum. Thecosmetically acceptable vehicle of the present invention can includewater, glycerin, crosslinked polyacrylate polymers, disodiumethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, triethanolamine, polydimethylsiloxane,and polymethyl methylacrylate. In some aspects of the invention, thecosmetic vehicle can include glycerol stearate, cetyl alcohol, cetylphosphate, cetearyl alcohol, structuring agents, and preservatives.Addition of pentylene glycol, ethylhexyl isononoate, zea mays germ oil,butyrospermum parkii butter, and sucrose polycottonseedate to thetopical compositions of the present invention can enhance conditioningof the skin. In other aspects of the present invention, butylene glycol,cyclopentasiloxane, hydrogenated polydecene, caprylyl glycol, squalane,panthenol, polysorbate 20, 1,2-hexanediol, and a copolymer ofhydroxymethyl acrylate and acryloyldimethyl taurate can be used whenformulating the topical composition as a serum.

In some aspects of the invention, the composition can include at least50% by weight based on the total weight of the composition (wt. %) ofwater or 50% to 99.5% wt. % water. The compositions can be formulated asoil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions, preferably as an oil-in-wateremulsion. The composition can be formulated as a serum. The compositioncan be capable of being applied to the skin and/or the periorbital areaof a person's face, and can include the aforementioned Opuntiaficus-indica tuna or nopales extract and a cosmetically acceptablevehicle. The compositions can include from 0.0001% to 5% by weight,preferably between 0.0001% to 0.5% percent by weight or even 0.0001% to0.1% by weight of the Opuntia ficus-indica tuna and/or nopales extractand any combination thereof with the balance being water and/or otheringredients. Methods of applying the oil and water emulsion or serum caninclude applying any of the oil and water emulsions or serums describedthroughout this Specification to a portion of a person's face and/or aportion of the periorbital region of a person's face.

In some aspects, the topical skin care composition does not include seapine, orotic acid, hydrolyzed casein, hydrolyzed collagen, hydrolyzedconchorin protein, hydrolyzed corn protein, hydrolyzed elastin,hydrolyzed potato protein, hydrolyzed rice protein, hydrolyzed silk,hydrolyzed soy protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein, phytoglycolipid,millet extract, sigmasterol, sitosterol, soybean sterols, canola derivedsterols, campesterol, and/or brassicasterol. In some instances, thecompositions do not include trehalose, aloe extract, guava,hydroxy-alpha-sanshool, hydroxy-beta-sanshool, hydroxy-gamma-sanshool,menthol, anethole, isopulegol, menthoxypropane-1,2,diol,menthone,menthylacetate, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate,N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropylbutanamide, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboxamide,menthyl lactate, menthyl succinate, menthone glycerol ketal spilanthol,N-acetyl glycine menthyl ester, L-menthol-3-hydroxybutyrate,2-isopropenyl-1-methylcyclohexanol, trialkyl-substituted cyclohexanecarboxamides, cyclohexanamides, N-ethyl-p-methane-3-carboxamide,2-mercapto-cyclo-decanone, 2-isopropanyl-5-methylcyclohexanol andmixtures thereof. In some aspects, the compositions do not include ahydrocarbon (e.g., mineral oil, terpenes, isoparraffins, polyethylenewaxes, petroleum jelly). In yet other instances, the compositions do notinclude a silicone fluid nor a C₆-C₄₀ ester. In further aspects, thecompositions of the present invention do not include chia seed oiland/or an extract of common mallow (Malva sylvestris). In yet furtherembodiments, the compositions of the present invention do not include ahydroxylated ester, a mineral oil, at least one copolymer derived fromalkenes, a hydrogenated polymer, and/or a glyceryl glucoside.

The compositions of the present invention can also include any one of,any combination of, or all of the following additional ingredients:water, a chelating agent, a moisturizing agent, a preservative, athickening agent, a silicone containing compound, an essential oil, astructuring agent, a vitamin, a pharmaceutical ingredient, a skinlightening ingredient, or an antioxidant, or any combination of suchingredients or mixtures of such ingredients. In certain aspects, thecomposition can include at least two, three, four, five, six, seven,eight, nine, ten, or all of these additional ingredients identified inthe previous sentence. Non-limiting examples of these additionalingredients are identified throughout this specification and areincorporated into this section by reference. The amounts of suchingredients can range from 0.0001% to 99.9% by weight or volume of thecomposition, or any integer or range in between as disclosed in othersections of this specification, which are incorporated into thisparagraph by reference.

Also disclosed are methods of treating erythema, inflammation, rosacea,and/or psoriasis that include topically applying any of the compositionsof the present invention to skin in need thereof, wherein saidcomposition inhibits/reduces VEGF, or TNF-alpha. In some aspects, saidcompositions are applied to red blotches on skin.

In a further embodiment, there is disclosed a method of treating spiderveins (telangiectasia). The method can include topically applying any ofthe compositions of the present invention to skin in need thereof (i.e.,applied to skin having or susceptible of developing spider veins),wherein said composition inhibits/reduces VEGF or TNF-alpha productionin skin and reduces the appearance of spider veins. In particular,reducing VEGF production is believed to reduce vasculogenesis and/orangiogenesis, thereby reducing the appearance of spider veins.

Kits that include the compositions of the present invention are alsocontemplated. In certain embodiments, the composition is comprised in acontainer. The container can be a bottle, dispenser, or package. Thecontainer can dispense a pre-determined amount of the composition. Incertain aspects, the compositions are dispensed in a spray, dollop, orliquid. The container can include indicia on its surface. The indiciacan be a word, an abbreviation, a picture, or a symbol.

It is also contemplated that the compositions disclosed throughout thisspecification can be used as a leave-on or rinse-off composition. By wayof example, a leave-on composition can be one that is topically appliedto skin and remains on the skin for a period of time (e.g., at least 5,6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, or 30 minutes, or at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 or 24 hours,or overnight or throughout the day). Alternatively, a rinse-offcomposition can be a product that is intended to be applied to the skinand then removed or rinsed from the skin (e.g., with water) within aperiod of time such as less than 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1 minute. An example ofa rinse of composition can be a skin cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, orsoap. An example of a leave-on composition can be a skin moisturizer,sunscreen, mask, overnight cream, serum or a day cream. Alsocontemplated is a product that includes a lipstick, a toner, asunscreen, a mask, an anti-aging product, a deodorant, anantiperspirant, a perfume, a cologne, etc.

It is contemplated that any embodiment discussed in this specificationcan be implemented with respect to any method or composition of theinvention, and vice versa. Furthermore, compositions of the inventioncan be used to achieve methods of the invention.

In one embodiment, compositions of the present invention can bepharmaceutically or cosmetically elegant or can have pleasant tactileproperties. “Pharmaceutically elegant,” “cosmetically elegant,” and/or“pleasant tactile properties” describes a composition that hasparticular tactile properties which feel pleasant on the skin (e.g.,compositions that are not too watery or greasy, compositions that have asilky texture, compositions that are non-tacky or sticky, etc.).Pharmaceutically or cosmetically elegant can also relate to thecreaminess or lubricity properties of the composition or to the moistureretaining properties of the composition.

“Topical application” means to apply or spread a composition onto thesurface of lips or keratinous tissue. “Topical skin composition”includes compositions suitable for topical application on lips orkeratinous tissue. Such compositions are typicallydermatologically-acceptable in that they do not have undue toxicity,incompatibility, instability, allergic response, and the like, whenapplied to lips or skin. Topical skin care compositions of the presentinvention can have a selected viscosity to avoid significant dripping orpooling after application to skin.

“Keratinous tissue” includes keratin-containing layers disposed as theoutermost protective covering of mammals and includes, but is notlimited to, lips, skin, hair and nails.

The term “about” or “approximately” are defined as being close to asunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limitingembodiment the terms are defined to be within 10%, preferably within 5%,more preferably within 1%, and most preferably within 0.5%.

The terms “weight percent,” “wt. %,” “volume percent,” or “vol. %”refers to a weight or volume percentage of a component, respectively,based on the total weight or the total volume of material that includesthe component. In a non-limiting example, 10 grams of component (e.g.,Opuntia ficus-indica fruit or nopales extract) in 100 grams of thematerial (topical skin composition) is 10 wt. % of component.

The term “substantially” and its variations are defined as being largelybut not necessarily wholly what is specified as understood by one ofordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodimentsubstantially refers to ranges within 10%, within 5%, within 1%, orwithin 0.5%.

The terms “inhibiting” or “reducing” or any variation of these termsincludes any measurable decrease or complete inhibition to achieve adesired result. The terms “promote” or “increase” or any variation ofthese terms includes any measurable increase or production of a proteinor molecule (e.g., matrix proteins such as fibronectin, laminin,collagen, or elastin or molecules such as hyaluronic acid) to achieve adesired result.

The term “effective,” as that term is used in the specification and/orclaims, means adequate to accomplish a desired, expected, or intendedresult.

The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the terms“comprising,” “including,” “having,” or “containing” in the claimsand/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent withthe meaning of “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more thanone.”

As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (andany form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having”(and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and anyform of including, such as “includes” and “include”) or “containing”(and any form of containing, such as “contains” and “contain”) areinclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecitedelements or method steps.

The compositions and methods for their use can “comprise,” “consistessentially of,” or “consist of” any of the ingredients or stepsdisclosed throughout the specification. With respect to the transitionalphase “consisting essentially of,” in one non-limiting aspect, a basicand novel characteristic of the Opuntia ficus-indica extracts of thepresent invention (e.g., Opuntia ficus-indica tuna (prickly pear fruit)and/or Opuntia ficus-indica nopal (prickly pear paddles)) are theirability to reduce TNF-alpha and/or vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) production in skin cells.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and the examples,while indicating specific embodiments of the invention, are given by wayof illustration only. Additionally, it is contemplated that changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Given the number of various products on the market today and the myriadof different skin types, a person is oftentimes at a loss to identify anappropriate product to help counteract the intrinsic and extrinsicfactors that contribute to the aging process.

The cosmetic compositions and formulations of the present invention canbe used to counteract the factors contributing to the aging process andmaintain and improve the health of a variety of skin types. Thecompositions can include Opuntia ficus-indica extract(s) (e.g., Opuntiaficus-indica tuna (prickly pear fruit) and/or Opuntia ficus-indica nopal(prickly pear paddles)), which have the ability to reduce TNF-alphaand/or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in skincells. By down regulating these biochemical pathways associated withinflammation in skin cells, it is believed that positive benefits forthe skin can result. Non-limiting examples of such positive benefitsinclude counteracting oxidative and inflammatory damage in skin cells,increasing dermal proteins such as collagen and laminin in skin cells,reducing pigmentation in skin cells, and/or reduce lipid peroxides andprotein oxidation in skin cells. This can result in skin having a moreyouthful appearance such as improved skin texture and clarity, reducedinflammation of skin, reduced erythema of skin (e.g., reduce theappearance of red discolorations or red blotches), evened out skin tone,reduced fine lines and/or wrinkles, improved overall appearance of thearea around the eye, reduced appearance of spider veins(telangiectasia), and/or increased moisture of the skin.

These and other non-limiting aspects of the present invention areprovided in the following subsections.

A. Opuntia Ficus-INDICA PLANT AND EXTRACTS THEREOF

The present invention is premised on the discovery that the activeingredients found in extracts of the Opuntia ficus-indica plantincluding extracts of Opuntia ficus-indica tuna and/or extracts ofOpuntia ficus-indica nopal can be used to improve the improve the skin'svisual appearance, counteract the extrinsic and intrinsic effects ofaging, treat erythema, inflammation, rosacea, psoriasis, or relateddisorders, and even out a person's skin tone (e.g., even out the colorof skin). This active ingredient can be used in different products(e.g., a day cream, an eye cream, and a serum) to treat various skinconditions. By way of example, a day cream can help moisturize skin andhelp lessen reddening of the skin. An eye cream can help firm up skinand increase microcirculation to reduce the appearance of under eye bagswhile also reducing the appearance of dark circles. A serum can have aconcentrated amount of these ingredients to help reduce the accumulationof proteins that can lead to skin aging or inflammation.

The compositions and formulation of the present invention can beparticularly beneficial for skin that has begun to develop lines,wrinkles and/or crepiness. In addition to counteracting the agingprocess, the combination of ingredients hydrates and brightens the skinand protects skin form environmental damage.

Also commonly known as prickly pear, Opuntia tuna is the fruit andOpuntia nopal is the paddle of a family of cactus native to theAmericas. The whole prickly pear plant or fruit and/or paddles aretypically extracted using a maceration process with organicoils/solvents and/or aqueous solvents. In non-limiting instances, theextracts can be obtained by using the extraction processes illustratedin Example 1. By way of example, the plant can be macerated and then besubjected to an extraction solvent/extractant and collected. Insolublematerials and particulates can be filtered out to obtain the solvent. Insome instances, the extractant can be water or alcohol or a combinationthereof (i.e., aqueous-alcoholic mixture). The alcohol can be methanol,ethanol, glycerin, or a glycol (e.g., ethylene glycol). Alternatively,the extractant can be an oil such as a plant oil or a vegetable oil. Anon-limiting plant oil can be oil from the sunflower plant (e.g.,sunflower seed oil). The aqueous, alcoholic, aqueous-alcoholic, and oilextracts can include ingredients that are soluble in the extractant thatwas used.

B. COSMETIC VEHICLE

The cosmetic vehicle of the present invention has been designed to workfor all skin types (e.g., oily, dry, or combination) and all age ranges.The cosmetic vehicle can be formulated as a skin cream, an eye cream, ora serum. Non-limiting examples of the cosmetic vehicle include emulsions(e.g., water-in-oil, water-in-oil-in-water, oil-in-water,silicone-in-water, water-in-silicone, oil-in-water-in-oil,oil-in-water-in-silicone emulsions), creams, lotions, solutions (bothaqueous and hydro-alcoholic), anhydrous bases (such as lipsticks andpowders), gels, and ointments. Variations and other appropriate vehicleswill be apparent to the skilled artisan and are appropriate for use inthe present invention. In certain aspects, it is important that theconcentrations and combinations of the compounds, ingredients, andagents be selected in such a way that the combinations are chemicallycompatible and do not form complexes which precipitate from the finishedproduct.

In one instance, the cosmetic vehicle can include 50 to 70% water, 1 to3% by weight polydimethylsiloxane, 1 to 12% by weight of glycerin, 0.01to 0.3% by weight crosslinked polyacrylate polymers, 0.01 to 0.2% byweight disodium EDTA, 0.01 to 1% by weight triethanolamine, and 0.01 to1% by weight polymethyl methylacrylate 1 to 5% by weight pentyleneglycol, 1 to 5% by weight glyceryl stearate, 1 to 5% by weightethylhexyl isononoate, 1 to 3% by weight cetyl alcohol, 1 to 5% byweight butyrospermum parkii butter, 1 to 3% by weight cetyl phosphate, 1to 3% by weight cetearyl alcohol, 0.01 to 1% by weight sucrosepolycottonseedate, 0.01 to 1% by weight structuring agents, and 0.01 to0.5% by weight preservatives. In another instance, the cosmetic vehiclecan include 60 to 70% water, 1 to 12% by weight of glycerin, 0.01 to0.3% by weight crosslinked polyacrylate polymers, 0.01 to 0.2% by weightdisodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), 0.01 to 1% by weighttriethanolamine, and 0.01 to 1% by weight polymethyl methylacrylate. Insome embodiments, the serum can include 60 to 70% water, butyleneglycol, cyclopentasiloxane, hydrogenated polydecene, caprylyl glycol,squalane, panthenol, polysorbate 20, 1,2-hexanediol, and a copolymer ofhydroxymethyl acrylate and acryloyldimethyl taurate, 1 to 7% by weightbutylene glycol, 1 to 7% by weight cyclopentasiloxane, 1 to 5% by weighthydrogenated polydecene, 0.01 to 1% by weight caprylyl glycol, 0.01 to1% by weight squalane, 0.01 to 1% by weight panthenol, 0.01 to 1% byweight polysorbate 20, 0.01 to 0.5% by weight 1,2-hexanediol, and 0.01to 0.5% by weight a copolymer of hydroxymethyl acrylate andacryloyldimethyl taurate.

C. AMOUNTS OF INGREDIENTS

It is contemplated that the compositions of the present invention caninclude any amount of the ingredients discussed in this specification.The compositions can also include any number of combinations ofadditional ingredients described throughout this specification (e.g.,pigments, or additional cosmetic or pharmaceutical ingredients). Theconcentrations of the any ingredient within the compositions can vary.In non-limiting embodiments, for example, the compositions can comprise,consisting essentially of, or consist of, in their final form, forexample, at least about 0.0001%, 0.0002%, 0.0003%, 0.0004%, 0.0005%,0.0006%, 0.0007%, 0.0008%, 0.0009%, 0.0010%, 0.0011%, 0.0012%, 0.0013%,0.0014%, 0.0015%, 0.0016%, 0.0017%, 0.0018%, 0.0019%, 0.0020%, 0.0021%,0.0022%, 0.0023%, 0.0024%, 0.0025%, 0.0026%, 0.0027%, 0.0028%, 0.0029%,0.0030%, 0.0031%, 0.0032%, 0.0033%, 0.0034%, 0.0035%, 0.0036%, 0.0037%,0.0038%, 0.0039%, 0.0040%, 0.0041%, 0.0042%, 0.0043%, 0.0044%, 0.0045%,0.0046%, 0.0047%, 0.0048%, 0.0049%, 0.0050%, 0.0051%, 0.0052%, 0.0053%,0.0054%, 0.0055%, 0.0056%, 0.0057%, 0.0058%, 0.0059%, 0.0060%, 0.0061%,0.0062%, 0.0063%, 0.0064%, 0.0065%, 0.0066%, 0.0067%, 0.0068%, 0.0069%,0.0070%, 0.0071%, 0.0072%, 0.0073%, 0.0074%, 0.0075%, 0.0076%, 0.0077%,0.0078%, 0.0079%, 0.0080%, 0.0081%, 0.0082%, 0.0083%, 0.0084%, 0.0085%,0.0086%, 0.0087%, 0.0088%, 0.0089%, 0.0090%, 0.0091%, 0.0092%, 0.0093%,0.0094%, 0.0095%, 0.0096%, 0.0097%, 0.0098%, 0.0099%, 0.0100%, 0.0200%,0.0250%, 0.0275%, 0.0300%, 0.0325%, 0.0350%, 0.0375%, 0.0400%, 0.0425%,0.0450%, 0.0475%, 0.0500%, 0.0525%, 0.0550%, 0.0575%, 0.0600%, 0.0625%,0.0650%, 0.0675%, 0.0700%, 0.0725%, 0.0750%, 0.0775%, 0.0800%, 0.0825%,0.0850%, 0.0875%, 0.0900%, 0.0925%, 0.0950%, 0.0975%, 0.1000%, 0.1250%,0.1500%, 0.1750%, 0.2000%, 0.2250%, 0.2500%, 0.2750%, 0.3000%, 0.3250%,0.3500%, 0.3750%, 0.4000%, 0.4250%, 0.4500%, 0.4750%, 0.5000%, 0.5250%,0.0550%, 0.5750%, 0.6000%, 0.6250%, 0.6500%, 0.6750%, 0.7000%, 0.7250%,0.7500%, 0.7750%, 0.8000%, 0.8250%, 0.8500%, 0.8750%, 0.9000%, 0.9250%,0.9500%, 0.9750%, 1.0%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%,1.9%, 2.0%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3.0%,3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4.0%, 4.1%, 4.2%,4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5.0%, 5.1%, 5.2%, 5.3%, 5.4%,5.5%, 5.6%, 5.7%, 5.8%, 5.9%, 6.0%, 6.1%, 6.2%, 6.3%, 6.4%, 6.5%, 6.6%,6.7%, 6.8%, 6.9%, 7.0%, 7.1%, 7.2%, 7.3%, 7.4%, 7.5%, 7.6%, 7.7%, 7.8%,7.9%, 8.0%, 8.1%, 8.2%, 8.3%, 8.4%, 8.5%, 8.6%, 8.7%, 8.8%, 8.9%, 9.0%,9.1%, 9.2%, 9.3%, 9.4%, 9.5%, 9.6%, 9.7%, 9.8%, 9.9%, 10%, 11%, 12%,13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%,27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45%, 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%,90%, 95%, or 99% or any range derivable therein, of at least one of theingredients that are mentioned throughout the specification and claims.In non-limiting aspects, the percentage can be calculated by weight orvolume of the total composition. A person of ordinary skill in the artwould understand that the concentrations can vary depending on theaddition, substitution, and/or subtraction of ingredients in a givencomposition.

D. ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS

In addition to the active ingredients and cosmetic vehicles, thecompositions can also include additional ingredients such as cosmeticingredients and other pharmaceutical active ingredients. Non-limitingexamples of these additional ingredients are described in the followingsubsections.

1. Cosmetic Ingredients

The CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook (2004and 2008) describes a wide variety of non-limiting cosmetic ingredientsthat can be used in the context of the present invention. Examples ofthese ingredient classes include: fragrances (artificial and natural),dyes and color ingredients (e.g., Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake, Red 40, titaniumdioxide, D&C blue no. 4, D&C green no. 5, D&C orange no. 4, D&C red no.17, D&C red no. 33, D&C violet no. 2, D&C yellow no. 10, and D&C yellowno. 11), adsorbents, lubricants, solvents, moisturizers (including,e.g., emollients, humectants, film formers, occlusive agents, and agentsthat affect the natural moisturizing mechanisms of the skin),water-repellants, UV absorbers (physical and chemical absorbers such aspara-aminobenzoic acid (“PABA”) and corresponding PABA derivatives,titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, etc.), essential oils, vitamins (e.g. A,B, C, D, E, and K), trace metals (e.g. zinc, calcium and selenium),anti-irritants (e.g. steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories),botanical extracts (e.g. aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber extract, ginkgobiloba, ginseng, and rosemary), anti-microbial agents, antioxidants(e.g., BHT and tocopherol), chelating agents (e.g., disodium EDTA andtetrasodium EDTA), preservatives (e.g., methylparaben andpropylparaben), pH adjusters (e.g., sodium hydroxide and citric acid),absorbents (e.g., aluminum starch octenylsuccinate, kaolin, corn starch,oat starch, cyclodextrin, talc, and zeolite), skin bleaching andlightening agents (e.g., hydroquinone and niacinamide lactate),humectants (e.g., sorbitol, urea, methyl gluceth-20, and mannitol),exfoliants, emulsifier stabilizers (e.g., hydroxypropyl cyclodextrin),waterproofing agents (e.g., magnesium/aluminum hydroxide stearate), skinconditioning agents (e.g., aloe extracts, allantoin, bisabolol,ceramides, dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, biosaccharide gum-1,ethylhexylglycerin, pentylene glycol, hydrogenated polydecene,octyldodecyl oleate, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate). Non-limitingexamples of some of these ingredients are provided in the followingsubsections.

a. UV Absorption Agents

UV absorption agents that can be used in combination with thecompositions of the present invention include chemical and physicalsunblocks. Non-limiting examples of chemical sunblocks that can be usedinclude para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA), PABA esters (glyceryl PABA,amyldimethyl PABA and octyldimethyl PABA), butyl PABA, ethyl PABA, ethyldihydroxypropyl PABA, benzophenones (oxybenzone, sulisobenzone,benzophenone, and benzophenone-1 through 12), cinnamates (octylmethoxycinnamate, isoamyl p-methoxycinnamate, octylmethoxy cinnamate,cinoxate, diisopropyl methyl cinnamate, DEA-methoxycinnamate, ethyldiisopropylcinnamate, glyceryl octanoate dimethoxycinnamate and ethylmethoxycinnamate), cinnamate esters, salicylates (homomethyl salicylate,benzyl salicylate, glycol salicylate, isopropylbenzyl salicylate, etc.),anthranilates, ethyl urocanate, homosalate, octisalate, dibenzoylmethanederivatives (e.g., avobenzone), octocrylene, octyl triazone, digalloyltrioleate, glyceryl aminobenzoate, lawsone with dihydroxyacetone,ethylhexyl triazone, dioctyl butamido triazone, benzylidene malonatepolysiloxane, terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid, disodium phenyldibenzimidazole tetrasulfonate, diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl hexylbenzoate, bis-diethylamino hydroxybenzoyl benzoate, bisbenzoxazoylphenyl ethylhexylimino-triazine, drometrizole trisiloxane,methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, andbis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyltriazine, 4-methylbenzylidenecamphor, and isopentyl-4-methoxycinnamate. Non-limiting examples ofphysical sun blocks include, kaolin, talc, petrolatum and metal oxides(e.g., titanium dioxide and zinc oxide).

b. Moisturizing Agents

Non-limiting examples of moisturizing agents that can be used with thecompositions of the present invention include amino acids, chondroitinsulfate, diglycerin, erythritol, fructose, glucose, glycerin, glycerolpolymers, glycol, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, honey, hyaluronic acid,hydrogenated honey, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, inositol, lactitol,maltitol, maltose, mannitol, natural moisturizing factor, PEG-15butanediol, polyglyceryl sorbitol, salts of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid,potassium PCA, propylene glycol, sodium glucuronate, sodium PCA,sorbitol, sucrose, trehalose, urea, and xylitol.

Other examples include acetylated lanolin, acetylated lanolin alcohol,alanine, algae extract, aloe barbadensis, aloe-barbadensis extract, aloebarbadensis gel, althea officinalis extract, apricot (prunus armeniaca)kernel oil, arginine, arginine aspartate, arnica montana extract,aspartic acid, avocado (persea gratissima) oil, barrier sphingolipids,butyl alcohol, beeswax, behenyl alcohol, beta-sitosterol, birch (betulaalba) bark extract, borage (borago officinalis) extract, butcherbroom(ruscus aculeatus) extract, butylene glycol, calendula officinalisextract, calendula officinalis oil, candelilla (euphorbia cerifera) wax,canola oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cardamom (elettariacardamomum) oil, carnauba (copernicia cerifera) wax, carrot (daucuscarota sativa) oil, castor (ricinus communis) oil, ceramides, ceresin,ceteareth-5, ceteareth-12, ceteareth-20, cetearyl octanoate, ceteth-20,ceteth-24, cetyl acetate, cetyl octanoate, cetyl palmitate, chamomile(anthemis nobilis) oil, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, cholesterylhydroxystearate, citric acid, clary (salvia sclarea) oil, cocoa(theobroma cacao) butter, coco-caprylate/caprate, coconut (cocosnucifera) oil, collagen, collagen amino acids, corn (zea mays)oil, fattyacids, decyl oleate, dimethicone copolyol, dimethiconol, dioctyladipate, dioctyl succinate, dipentaerythritol hexacaprylate/hexacaprate,DNA, erythritol, ethoxydiglycol, ethyl linoleate, eucalyptus globulusoil, evening primrose (oenothera biennis) oil, fatty acids, geraniummaculatum oil, glucosamine, glucose glutamate, glutamic acid,glycereth-26, glycerin, glycerol, glyceryl distearate, glycerylhydroxystearate, glyceryl laurate, glyceryl linoleate, glycerylmyristate, glyceryl oleate, glyceryl stearate, glyceryl stearate SE,glycine, glycol stearate, glycol stearate SE, glycosaminoglycans, grape(vitis vinifera) seed oil, hazel (corylus americana) nut oil, hazel(corylus avellana) nut oil, hexylene glycol, hyaluronic acid, hybridsafflower (carthamus tinctorius) oil, hydrogenated castor oil,hydrogenated coco-glycerides, hydrogenated coconut oil, hydrogenatedlanolin, hydrogenated lecithin, hydrogenated palm glyceride,hydrogenated palm kernel oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, hydrogenatedtallow glyceride, hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydrolyzed collagen,hydrolyzed elastin, hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans, hydrolyzed keratin,hydrolyzed soy protein, hydroxylated lanolin, hydroxyproline, isocetylstearate, isocetyl stearoyl stearate, isodecyl oleate, isopropylisostearate, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, isopropylpalmitate, isopropyl stearate, isostearamide DEA, isostearic acid,isostearyl lactate, isostearyl neopentanoate, jasmine (jasminumofficinale) oil, jojoba (buxus chinensis) oil, kelp, kukui (aleuritesmoluccana) nut oil, lactamide MEA, laneth-16, laneth-10 acetate,lanolin, lanolin acid, lanolin alcohol, lanolin oil, lanolin wax,lavender (lavandula angustifolia) oil, lecithin, lemon (citrus medicalimonum) oil, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, macadamia ternifolia nutoil, maltitol, matricaria (chamomilla recutita) oil, methyl glucosesesquistearate, methylsilanol PCA, mineral oil, mink oil, mortierellaoil, myristyl lactate, myristyl myristate, myristyl propionate,neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, octyldodecanol, octyldodecylmyristate, octyldodecyl stearoyl stearate, octyl hydroxystearate, octylpalmitate, octyl salicylate, octyl stearate, oleic acid, olive (oleaeuropaea) oil, orange (citrus aurantium dulcis) oil, palm (elaeisguineensis) oil, palmitic acid, pantethine, panthenol, panthenyl ethylether, paraffin, PCA, peach (prunus persica) kernel oil, peanut (arachishypogaea) oil, PEG-8 C12-18 ester, PEG-15 cocamine, PEG-150 distearate,PEG-60 glyceryl isostearate, PEG-5 glyceryl stearate, PEG-30 glycerylstearate, PEG-7 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil,PEG-60 hydrogenated castor oil, PEG-20 methyl glucose sesquistearate,PEG-40 sorbitan peroleate, PEG-5 soy sterol, PEG-10 soy sterol, PEG-2stearate, PEG-8 stearate, PEG-20 stearate, PEG-32 stearate, PEG-40stearate, PEG-50 stearate, PEG-100 stearate, PEG-150 stearate,pentadecalactone, peppermint (mentha piperita) oil, petrolatum,phospholipids, polyamino sugar condensate, polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate,polyquaternium-24, polysorbate 20, polysorbate 40, polysorbate 60,polysorbate 80, polysorbate 85, potassium myristate, potassiumpalmitate, propylene glycol, propylene glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate,propylene glycol dioctanoate, propylene glycol dipelargonate, propyleneglycol laurate, propylene glycol stearate, propylene glycol stearate SE,PVP, pyridoxine dipalmitate, retinol, retinyl palmitate, rice (oryzasativa) bran oil, RNA, rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) oil, rose oil,safflower (carthamus tinctorius) oil, sage (salvia officinalis) oil,sandalwood (santalum album) oil, serine, serum protein, sesame (sesamumindicum) oil, shea butter (butyrospermum parkii), silk powder, sodiumchondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate, sodium lactate, sodiumpalmitate, sodium PCA, sodium polyglutamate, soluble collagen, sorbitanlaurate, sorbitan oleate, sorbitan palmitate, sorbitan sesquioleate,sorbitan stearate, sorbitol, soybean (glycine soja) oil, sphingolipids,squalane, squalene, stearamide MEA-stearate, stearic acid, stearoxydimethicone, stearoxytrimethylsilane, stearyl alcohol, stearylglycyrrhetinate, stearyl heptanoate, stearyl stearate, sunflower(helianthus annuus) seed oil, sweet almond (prunus amygdalus dulcis)oil, synthetic beeswax, tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate, tocopheryllinoleate, tribehenin, tridecyl neopentanoate, tridecyl stearate,triethanolamine, tristearin, urea, vegetable oil, water, waxes, wheat(triticum vulgare) germ oil, and ylang ylang (cananga odorata) oil.

c. Antioxidants

Non-limiting examples of antioxidants that can be used with thecompositions of the present invention include acetyl cysteine, ascorbicacid polypeptide, ascorbyl dipalmitate, ascorbyl methylsilanolpectinate, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl stearate, BHA, BHT, t-butylhydroquinone, cysteine, cysteine HCI, diamylhydroquinone,di-t-butylhydroquinone, dicetyl thiodipropionate, dioleyl tocopherylmethylsilanol, disodium ascorbyl sulfate, distearyl thiodipropionate,ditridecyl thiodipropionate, dodecyl gallate, erythorbic acid, esters ofascorbic acid, ethyl ferulate, ferulic acid, gallic acid esters,hydroquinone, isooctyl thioglycolate, kojic acid, magnesium ascorbate,magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, methylsilanol ascorbate, natural botanicalanti-oxidants such as green tea or grape seed extracts,nordihydroguaiaretic acid, octyl gallate, phenylthioglycolic acid,potassium ascorbyl tocopheryl phosphate, potassium sulfite, propylgallate, quinones, rosmarinic acid, sodium ascorbate, sodium bisulfite,sodium erythorbate, sodium metabisulfite, sodium sulfite, superoxidedismutase, sodium thioglycolate, sorbityl furfural, thiodiglycol,thiodiglycolamide, thiodiglycolic acid, thioglycolic acid, thiolacticacid, thiosalicylic acid, tocophereth-5, tocophereth-10, tocophereth-12,tocophereth-18, tocophereth-50, tocopherol, tocophersolan, tocopherylacetate, tocopheryl linoleate, tocopheryl nicotinate, tocopherylsuccinate, and tris(nonylphenyl)phosphite.

d. Structuring Agents

In other non-limiting aspects, the compositions of the present inventioncan include a structuring agent. Structuring agent, in certain aspects,assist in providing rheological characteristics to the composition tocontribute to the composition's stability. In other aspects, structuringagents can also function as an emulsifier or surfactant. Non-limitingexamples of structuring agents include stearic acid, palmitic acid,stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, stearic acid, palmiticacid, the polyethylene glycol ether of stearyl alcohol having an averageof about 1 to about 21 ethylene oxide units, the polyethylene glycolether of cetyl alcohol having an average of about 1 to about 5 ethyleneoxide units, and mixtures thereof.

e. Emulsifiers

In certain aspects of the present invention, the compositions do notinclude an emulsifier. In other aspects, however, the compositions caninclude one or more emulsifiers. Emulsifiers can reduce the interfacialtension between phases and improve the formulation and stability of anemulsion. The emulsifiers can be nonionic, cationic, anionic, andzwitterionic emulsifiers (See McCutcheon's (1986); U.S. Pat. Nos.5,011,681; 4,421,769; 3,755,560). Non-limiting examples include estersof glycerin, esters of propylene glycol, fatty acid esters ofpolyethylene glycol, fatty acid esters of polypropylene glycol, estersof sorbitol, esters of sorbitan anhydrides, carboxylic acid copolymers,esters and ethers of glucose, ethoxylated ethers, ethoxylated alcohols,alkyl phosphates, polyoxyethylene fatty ether phosphates, fatty acidamides, acyl lactylates, soaps, TEA stearate, DEA oleth-3 phosphate,polyethylene glycol 20 sorbitan monolaurate (polysorbate 20),polyethylene glycol 5 soya sterol, steareth-2, steareth-20, steareth-21,ceteareth-20, cetearyl glucoside, cetearyl alcohol, C12-13 pareth-3,PPG-2 methyl glucose ether distearate, PPG-5-ceteth-20,bis-PEG/PPG-20/20 dimethicone, ceteth-10, polysorbate 80, cetylphosphate, potassium cetyl phosphate, diethanolamine cetyl phosphate,polysorbate 60, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, arachidyl alcohol,arachidyl glucoside, and mixtures thereof.

f. Silicone Containing Compounds

In non-limiting aspects, silicone containing compounds include anymember of a family of polymeric products whose molecular backbone ismade up of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms with side groupsattached to the silicon atoms. By varying the —Si—O— chain lengths, sidegroups, and crosslinking, silicones can be synthesized into a widevariety of materials. They can vary in consistency from liquid to gel tosolids.

The silicone containing compounds that can be used in the context of thepresent invention include those described in this specification or thoseknown to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Non-limiting examplesinclude silicone oils (e.g., volatile and non-volatile oils), gels, andsolids. In certain aspects, the silicon containing compounds includes asilicone oils such as a polyorganosiloxane. Non-limiting examples ofpolyorganosiloxanes include dimethicone, cyclomethicone,polysilicone-11, phenyl trimethicone, trimethylsilylamodimethicone,stearoxytrimethylsilane, or mixtures of these and other organosiloxanematerials in any given ratio in order to achieve the desired consistencyand application characteristics depending upon the intended application(e.g., to a particular area such as the skin, hair, or eyes). A“volatile silicone oil” includes a silicone oil have a low heat ofvaporization, i.e. normally less than about 50 cal per gram of siliconeoil. Non-limiting examples of volatile silicone oils include:cyclomethicones such as Dow Corning 344 Fluid, Dow Corning 345 Fluid,Dow Corning 244 Fluid, and Dow Corning 245 Fluid, Volatile Silicon 7207(Union Carbide Corp., Danbury, Conn.); low viscosity dimethicones, i.e.dimethicones having a viscosity of about 50 cst or less (e.g.,dimethicones such as Dow Corning 200-0.5 cst Fluid). The Dow CorningFluids are available from Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, Mich.Cyclomethicone and dimethicone are described in the Third Edition of theCTFA Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary (incorporated by reference) ascyclic dimethyl polysiloxane compounds and a mixture of fully methylatedlinear siloxane polymers end-blocked with trimethylsiloxy units,respectively. Other non-limiting volatile silicone oils that can be usedin the context of the present invention include those available fromGeneral Electric Co., Silicone Products Div., Waterford, N.Y. and SWSSilicones Div. of Stauffer Chemical Co., Adrian, Mich.

g. Essential Oils

Essential oils include oils derived from herbs, flowers, trees, andother plants. Such oils are typically present as tiny droplets betweenthe plant's cells, and can be extracted by several method known to thoseof skill in the art (e.g., steam distilled, enfleurage (i.e., extractionby using fat), maceration, solvent extraction, or mechanical pressing).When these types of oils are exposed to air they tend to evaporate(i.e., a volatile oil). As a result, many essential oils are colorless,but with age they can oxidize and become darker. Essential oils areinsoluble in water and are soluble in alcohol, ether, fixed oils(vegetal), and other organic solvents. Typical physical characteristicsfound in essential oils include boiling points that vary from about 160°to 240° C. and densities ranging from about 0.759 to about 1.096.

Essential oils typically are named by the plant from which the oil isfound. For example, rose oil or peppermint oil is derived from rose orpeppermint plants, respectively. Non-limiting examples of essential oilsthat can be used in the context of the present invention include sesameoil, macadamia nut oil, tea tree oil, evening primrose oil, Spanish sageoil, Spanish rosemary oil, coriander oil, thyme oil, pimento berriesoil, rose oil, anise oil, balsam oil, bergamot oil, rosewood oil, cedaroil, chamomile oil, sage oil, clary sage oil, clove oil, cypress oil,eucalyptus oil, fennel oil, sea fennel oil, frankincense oil, geraniumoil, ginger oil, grapefruit oil, jasmine oil, juniper oil, lavender oil,lemon oil, lemongrass oil, lime oil, mandarin oil, marjoram oil, myrrhoil, neroli oil, orange oil, patchouli oil, pepper oil, black pepperoil, petitgrain oil, pine oil, rose otto oil, rosemary oil, sandalwoodoil, spearmint oil, spikenard oil, vetiver oil, wintergreen oil, orylang ylang. Other essential oils known to those of skill in the art arealso contemplated as being useful within the context of the presentinvention.

h. Thickening Agents

Thickening agents, including thickener or gelling agents, includesubstances which that can increase the viscosity of a composition.Thickeners include those that can increase the viscosity of acomposition without substantially modifying the efficacy of the activeingredient within the composition. Thickeners can also increase thestability of the compositions of the present invention. In certainaspects of the present invention, thickeners include hydrogenatedpolyisobutene, trihydroxystearin, ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vpcopolymer, or a mixture thereof.

Non-limiting examples of additional thickening agents that can be usedin the context of the present invention include carboxylic acidpolymers, cross-linked polyacrylate polymers, polyacrylamide polymers,polysaccharides, and gums. Examples of carboxylic acid polymers includecross-linked compounds containing one or more monomers derived fromacrylic acid, substituted acrylic acids, and salts and esters of theseacrylic acids and the substituted acrylic acids, wherein thecrosslinking agent contains two or more carbon-carbon double bonds andis derived from a polyhydric alcohol (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,087,445;4,509,949; 2,798,053; CTFA International Cosmetic Ingredient Dictionary,Fourth edition, 1991, pp. 12 and 80). Examples of commercially availablecarboxylic acid polymers include carbomers, which are homopolymers ofacrylic acid cross-linked with allyl ethers of sucrose orpentaerythritol (e.g., Carbopol™ 900 series from B. F. Goodrich).

Non-limiting examples of cross-linked polyacrylate polymers includecationic and nonionic polymers. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.5,100,660 ; 4,849,484; 4,835,206; 4,628,078; 4,599,379).

Non-limiting examples of polyacrylamide polymers (including nonionicpolyacrylamide polymers including substituted branched or unbranchedpolymers) include polyacrylamide, iso-paraffin and laureth-7,multi-block copolymers of acrylamides and substituted acrylamides withacrylic acids and substituted acrylic acids.

Non-limiting examples of polysaccharides include cellulose,carboxymethyl hydroxyethylcellulose, cellulose acetate propionatecarboxylate, hydroxyethylcellulose, hydroxyethyl ethylcellulose,hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methylhydroxyethylcellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium cellulosesulfate, and mixtures thereof. Another example is an alkyl substitutedcellulose where the hydroxy groups of the cellulose polymer ishydroxyalkylated (preferably hydroxy ethylated or hydroxypropylated) toform a hydroxyalkylated cellulose which is then further modified with aC₁₀-C₃₀ straight chain or branched chain alkyl group through an etherlinkage. Typically these polymers are ethers of C₁₀-C₃₀ straight orbranched chain alcohols with hydroxyalkylcelluloses. Other usefulpolysaccharides include scleroglucans comprising a linear chain of (1-3)linked glucose units with a (1-6) linked glucose every three unit.

Non-limiting examples of gums that can be used with the presentinvention include acacia, agar, algin, alginic acid, ammonium alginate,amylopectin, calcium alginate, calcium carrageenan, carnitine,carrageenan, dextrin, gelatin, gellan gum, guar gum, guarhydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, hectorite, hyaluronic acid, hydratedsilica, hydroxypropyl chitosan, hydroxypropyl guar, karaya gum, kelp,locust bean gum, natto gum, potassium alginate, potassium carrageenan,propylene glycol alginate, sclerotium gum, sodium carboxymethyl dextran,sodium carrageenan, tragacanth gum, xanthan gum, and mixtures thereof.

i. Preservatives

Non-limiting examples of preservatives that can be used in the contextof the present invention include quaternary ammonium preservatives suchas polyquaternium-1 and benzalkonium halides (e.g., benzalkoniumchloride (“BAC”) and benzalkonium bromide), parabens (e.g.,methylparabens and propylparabens), phenoxyethanol, benzyl alcohol,chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and salts thereof, thimerosal,potassium sorbate, or combinations thereof.

2. Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Pharmaceutical active agents are also contemplated as being useful withthe compositions of the present invention. Non-limiting examples ofpharmaceutical active agents include anti-acne agents, agents used totreat rosacea, analgesics, anesthetics, anorectals, antihistamines,anti-inflammatory agents including non-steroidal anti-inflammatorydrugs, antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, antimicrobials, anti-canceractives, scabicides, pediculicides, antineoplastics, antiperspirants,antipruritics, antipsoriatic agents, antiseborrheic agents, biologicallyactive proteins and peptides, burn treatment agents, cauterizing agents,depigmenting agents, depilatories, diaper rash treatment agents,enzymes, hair growth stimulants, hair growth retardants includingdifluoromethylonithine (DFMO) and its salts and analogs, hemostatics,kerotolytics, canker sore treatment agents, cold sore treatment agents,dental and periodontal treatment agents, photosensitizing actives, skinprotectant/barrier agents, steroids including hormones andcorticosteroids, sunburn treatment agents, sunscreens, transdermalactives, nasal actives, vaginal actives, wart treatment agents, woundtreatment agents, wound healing agents, etc.

E. KITS

Kits are also contemplated as being used in certain aspects of thepresent invention. For instance, compositions of the present inventioncan be included in a kit. A kit can include a container. Containers caninclude a bottle, a metal tube, a laminate tube, a plastic tube, adispenser, a pressurized container, a barrier container, a package, acompartment, a lipstick container, a compact container, cosmetic pansthat can hold cosmetic compositions, or other types of containers suchas injection or blow-molded plastic containers into which thedispersions or compositions or desired bottles, dispensers, or packagesare retained. The kit and/or container can include indicia on itssurface. The indicia, for example, can be a word, a phrase, anabbreviation, a picture, or a symbol.

The containers can dispense a pre-determined amount of the composition.In other embodiments, the container can be squeezed (e.g., metal,laminate, or plastic tube) to dispense a desired amount of thecomposition. The composition can be dispensed as a spray, an aerosol, aliquid, a fluid, or a semi-solid. The containers can have spray, pump,or squeeze mechanisms. A kit can also include instructions for employingthe kit components as well the use of any other compositions included inthe container. Instructions can include an explanation of how to apply,use, and maintain the compositions. In one instance, a composition ofthe present invention can be comprised in a plastic container capable ofholding the composition and expelling the composition from thecontainer. The plastic can be comprised of a thermoset and/or athermoplastic polymer.

F. EXAMPLES

The following examples are included to demonstrate preferred embodimentsof the invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the artthat the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow representtechniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practiceof the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute preferredmodes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, inlight of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can bemade in the specific embodiments which are disclosed and still obtain alike or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. Example 1 (Manufacturing Procedure)

Prickly pear extracts used throughout the Examples were manufactured bya maceration process at Carrubba Inc. (Milford, Conn., USA). The processuses the selected plant or plant part (e.g., whole prickly pear plant(Opuntia ficus-indica) or fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica tuna), paddles(Opuntia ficus-indica nopales)). The plant used was sourced from Mexico.Oil-based and aqueous-based extracts of the plant or plant part wereprepared as follows. For oil extracts, the whole plant or plant part(e.g., fruit and/or paddles) is placed in a tank holding sunflower oiland macerated. Upon completion of the extraction process, the extractwas filtered.

For aqueous extracts, the whole plant or plant part (e.g., fruit and/orpaddles) is placed in a tank holding water and macerated. Glycerin andpreservatives held in a separate tank were then mixed with the maceratedwhole prickly pear plant or fruit and/or paddles.

Formulations having the ingredients from Example 1 were prepared astopical skin or hair compositions.

2. Example 2 (Assays)

Assays that can be used to determine the efficacy of any one of theingredients or any combination of ingredients or compositions havingsaid combination of ingredients disclosed throughout the specificationand claims can be determined by methods known to those of ordinary skillin the art. The following are non-limiting assays that can be used inthe context of the present invention. It should be recognized that othertesting procedures can be used, including, for example, objective andsubjective procedures.

Cytokin Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) Assay: Aqueous Opuntiaficus-indica tuna extract from Example 1 has been shown to inhibit TNF-αproduction by about 89% at 1% concentration and 51.9% at a 0.01%concentration. The prototype ligand of the TNF superfamily, TNF-α, is apleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in inflammation. Increasein its expression is associated with an up regulation inpro-inflammatory activity.

The bioassay used to assess the TNF-alpha inhibition properties ofaqueous Opuntia ficus-indica tuna extract from Example 1 is designed toanalyze the effect of the extract on the production of TNF-α by humanepidermal keratinocytes. The endpoint of this assay is aspectrophotometric measurement that reflects the presence of TNF-α andcellular viability. The assay employs the quantitative sandwich enzymeimmunoassay technique whereby a monoclonal antibody specific for TNF-αhas been pre-coated onto a microplate. Standards and samples arepipetted into the wells and any TNF-α present is bound by theimmobilized antibody. After washing away any unbound substances, anenzyme-linked polyclonal antibody specific for TNF-α is added to thewells. Following a wash to remove any unbound antibody-enzyme reagent, asubstrate solution is added to the wells and color develops inproportion to the amount of TNF-α bound in the initial step using amicroplate reader for detection at 450 nm. The color development isstopped and the intensity of the color is measured. Subconfluent normalhuman adult keratinocytes (Cascade Biologics) cultivated in EpiLifestandard growth medium (Cascade Biologics) at 37° C. in 5% CO₂, aretreated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 10 ng/ml, SigmaChemical, #P1585-1MG) and the extract for 6 hours. PMA has been shown tocause a dramatic increase in TNF-α secretion which peaks at 6 hoursafter treatment. Following incubation, cell culture medium is collectedand the amount of TNF-alpha secretion is quantified using a sandwichenzyme linked immuno-sorbant assay (ELISA) from R&D Systems (#DTA00C).

Cytokine array (includes VEGF): Aqueous Opuntia ficus-indica tunaextract from Example 1 has been shown to inhibit VEGF production. VEGFis a cytokine that stimulates vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and maycontribute to inflammation, redness, and rosacea. Aqueous Opuntiaficus-indica tuna extract inhibition of VEGF production was determinedwith a protein detection assay using biotinylated antibodies to avariety of cytokines for detection of the antibodies. It was determinedthat aqueous Opuntia ficus-indica tuna extract inhibits VEGF productionby about 82% at a 1% concentration and about 43.6% at a 0.1%concentration.

Briefly, human epidermal keratinocytes were cultured to 70-80%confluency. The media in the plate was aspirated and 0.025% trypsin/EDTAwas added. When the cells became rounded, the culture dish was gentlytapped to release the cells. The trypsin/EDTA containing cells wereremoved from the culture dish and neutralized. Cells were centrifugedfor 5 min. at 180× g. The cells formed a pellet and the supernatant wasaspirated. The resulting pellet was resuspended in EpiLife™ media(Cascade Biologics). The cells were seeded in 6-well plates atapproximately 10-20% confluency. After the cells became approximately80% confluent, the media was aspirated and 1.0 ml of EpiLife™, alongwith phorbol 13-Myristate 12-acetate (“PMA”) (a known inducer ofinflammation) and the test composition dilutions were added to tworeplicate wells (i.e., 1.0% (100 μl of 100× stock) and 0.1% (10 μl of100× stock) test compositions were diluted into a final volume of 1 mlEpiLife Growth Medium). The media was gently swirled to ensure adequatemixing. In addition, 1.0 ml of EpiLife™ was added to the control wells,with and without additional PMA. The plates were then incubated at 37±1°C. and 5.0±1% CO₂ for approximately 5 hours after dosing. Following this5-hour incubation, all media was collected in conical tubes and frozenat −70° C. and the frozen media was subsequently shipped on dry ice.

On the day of the analysis, a 16-pad hybridization chamber was attachedto 16-pad FAST slides arrayed in triplicate with 16 anti-cytokineantibodies (including VEGF) plus experimental controls (WhatmanBioSciences), and the slides were placed into a FASTFrame (4 slides perframe) for processing. Arrays were blocked for 15 min. at room temp.using 70 ml S&S Protein Array Blocking buffer (Whatman Schleicher andScheull). Blocking buffer was removed and 70 ml of each supernatantsample was added to each array. Arrays were incubated for 3 hours atroom temp. with gentle agitation. Arrays were washed 3 times with TBS-T.Arrays were treated with 70 ml of an antibody cocktail, containing onebiotinylated antibody corresponding to each of the arrayed captureantibodies. Arrays were incubated for 1 hour at room temp. with gentleagitation. Arrays were washed 3 times with TBS-T. Arrays were incubatedwith 70 ml of a solution containing streptavidin-Cy5 conjugate for 1hour at room temp. with gentle agitation. Arrays were washed 3 timeswith TBS-T, quickly rinsed in de-ionized water, and dried.

Slides were imaged in a Perkin-Elmer ScanArray 4000 confocal fluorescentimaging system. Array images were saved and analyzed using ImagingResearch ArrayVision software. Briefly, spot intensities were determinedby subtracting background signal. Spot replicates from each samplecondition were averaged and then compared to the appropriate controls.

3. Example 3 (Other Assays)

B16 Pigmentation Assay: Melanogenesis is the process by whichmelanocytes produce melanin, a naturally produced pigment that impartscolor to skin, hair, and eyes. Inhibiting melanogenesis is beneficial toprevent skin darkening and lighten dark spots associated with aging.This bioassay utilizes B16-F1 melanocytes (ATCC), an immortalized mousemelanoma cell line, to analyze the effect of compounds on melanogenesis.The endpoint of this assay is a spectrophotometric measurement ofmelanin production and cellular viability. B16-F1 melanocytes, can becultivated in standard DMEM growth medium with 10% fetal bovine serum(Mediatech) at 37° C. in 10% CO₂ and then treated with any one of theactive ingredients, combination of ingredients, or compositions havingsaid combinations disclosed in the specification for 6 days. Followingincubation, melanin secretion was measured by absorbance at 405 nm andcellular viability was quantified.

Collagen Stimulation Assay: Collagen is an extracellular matrix proteincritical for skin structure. Increased synthesis of collagen helpsimprove skin firmness and elasticity. This bioassay can be used toexamine the effect of any one of the active ingredients, combination ofingredients, or compositions having said combinations disclosed in thespecification on the production of procollagen peptide (a precursor tocollagen) by human epidermal fibroblasts. The endpoint of this assay isa spectrophotometric measurement that reflects the presence ofprocollagen peptide and cellular viability. The assay employs thequantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique whereby a monoclonalantibody specific for procollagen peptide has been pre-coated onto amicroplate. Standards and samples can be pipetted into the wells and anyprocollagen peptide present is bound by the immobilized antibody. Afterwashing away any unbound substances, an enzyme-linked polyclonalantibody specific for procollagen peptide can be added to the wells.Following a wash to remove any unbound antibody-enzyme reagent, asubstrate solution can be added to the wells and color develops inproportion to the amount of procollagen peptide bound in the initialstep using a microplate reader for detection at 450 nm. The colordevelopment can be stopped and the intensity of the color can bemeasured. Subconfluent normal human adult epidermal fibroblasts (CascadeBiologics) cultivated in standard DMEM growth medium with 10% fetalbovine serum (Mediatech) at 37° C. in 10% CO₂, can be treated with eachof the combination of ingredients or compositions having saidcombinations disclosed in the specification for 3 days. Followingincubation, cell culture medium can be collected and the amount ofprocollagen peptide secretion quantified using a sandwich enzyme linkedimmuno-sorbant assay (ELISA) from Takara (#MK101).

Antioxidant (AO) assay: An in vitro bioassay that measures the totalanti-oxidant capacity of any one of the ingredients, combination ofingredients, or compositions having said combinations disclosed in thespecification. The assay relies on the ability of antioxidants in thesample to inhibit the oxidation of ABTS®(2,2′-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate]) to ABTS®⋅+ bymetmyoglobin. The antioxidant system of living organisms includesenzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathioneperoxidase; macromolecules such as albumin, ceruloplasmin, and ferritin;and an array of small molecules, including ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol,β-carotene, reduced glutathione, uric acid, and bilirubin. The sum ofendogenous and food-derived antioxidants represents the totalantioxidant activity of the extracellular fluid. Cooperation of all thedifferent antioxidants provides greater protection against attack byreactive oxygen or nitrogen radicals, than any single compound alone.Thus, the overall antioxidant capacity may give more relevant biologicalinformation compared to that obtained by the measurement of individualcomponents, as it considers the cumulative effect of all antioxidantspresent in plasma and body fluids. The capacity of the antioxidants inthe sample to prevent ABTS oxidation is compared with that of Trolox, awater-soluble tocopherol analogue, and is quantified as molar Troloxequivalents. Anti-Oxidant capacity kit #709001 from Cayman Chemical (AnnArbor, Mich. USA) can be used as an in vitro bioassay to measure thetotal anti-oxidant capacity of each of any one of the activeingredients, combination of ingredients, or compositions having saidcombinations disclosed in the specification. The protocol can befollowed according to manufacturer recommendations. The assay relied onantioxidants in the sample to inhibit the oxidation of ABTS®(2,2′-azino-di-[3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate]) to ABTS®⋅+ bymetmyoglobin. The capacity of the antioxidants in the sample to preventABTS oxidation can be compared with that Trolox, a water-solubletocopherol analogue, and was quantified as a molar Trolox equivalent.

ORAC Assay: Oxygen Radical Absorption (or Absorbance) Capacity (ORAC) ofany one of the active ingredients, combination of ingredients, orcompositions having said combinations disclosed in the specification canalso be assayed by measuring the antioxidant activity of suchingredients or compositions. This assay can quantify the degree andlength of time it takes to inhibit the action of an oxidizing agent suchas oxygen radicals that are known to cause damage cells (e.g., skincells). The ORAC value of any one of the active ingredients, combinationof ingredients, or compositions having said combinations disclosed inthe specification can be determined by methods known to those ofordinary skill in the art (see U.S. Publication Nos. 2004/0109905 and2005/0163880; Cao et al. (1993)), all of which are incorporated byreference). In summary, the assay described in Cao et al. (1993)measures the ability of antioxidant compounds in test materials toinhibit the decline of B-phycoerythrm (B-PE) fluorescence that isinduced by a peroxyl radical generator, AAPH.

Mushroom tyrosinase activity assay: In mammalian cells, tyrosinasecatalyzes two steps in the multi-step biosynthesis of melanin pigmentsfrom tyrosine (and from the polymerization of dopachrome). Tyrosinase islocalized in melanocytes and produces melanin (aromatic quinonecompounds) that imparts color to skin, hair, and eyes. Purified mushroomtyrosinase (Sigma) can be incubated with its substrate L-Dopa (Fisher)in the presence or absence of each of the active ingredients, any one ofthe combination of ingredients, or compositions having said combinationsdisclosed in the specification. Pigment formation can be evaluated bycolorimetric plate reading at 490 nm. The percent inhibition of mushroomtyrosinase activity can be calculated compared to non-treated controlsto determine the ability of test ingredients or combinations thereof toinhibit the activity of purified enzyme. Test extract inhibition wascompared with that of kojic acid (Sigma).

Matrix Metalloproteinase Enzyme Activity (MMP3; MMP9) Assay: An in vitromatrix metalloprotease (MMP) inhibition assay. MMPs are extracellularproteases that play a role in many normal and disease states by virtueof their broad substrate specificity. MMP3 substrates include collagens,fibronectins, and laminin; while MMP9 substrates include collagen VII,fibronectins and laminin. Using Colorimetric Drug Discovery kits fromBioMol International for MMP3 (AK-400) and MMP-9 (AK-410), this assay isdesigned to measure protease activity of MMPs using a thiopeptide as achromogenic substrate(Ac-PLG-[2-mercapto-4-methyl-pentanoyl]-LG-OC2H5)5,6. The MMP cleavagesite peptide bond is replaced by a thioester bond in the thiopeptide.Hydrolysis of this bond by an MMP produces a sulfhydryl group, whichreacts with DTNB [5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), Ellman's reagent]to form 2-nitro-5-thiobenzoic acid, which can be detected by itsabsorbance at 412 nm (c=13,600 M-1 cm-1 at pH 6.0 and above 7). Theactive ingredients, any one of the combination of ingredients, orcompositions having said combinations disclosed in the specification canbe assayed.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) Assay: An in vitro cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1,-2) inhibition assay. COX is a bifunctional enzyme exhibiting bothcyclooxygenase and peroxidase activities. The cyclooxygenase activityconverts arachidonic acid to a hydroperoxy endoperoxide (ProstaglandinG2; PGG2) and the peroxidase component reduces the endoperoxide(Prostaglandin H2; PGH2) to the corresponding alcohol, the precursor ofprostaglandins, thromboxanes, and prostacyclins. This COX Inhibitorscreening assay measures the peroxidase component of cyclooxygenases.The peroxidase activity is assayed colorimetrically by monitoring theappearance of oxidized N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD).This inhibitor screening assay includes both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes inorder to screen isozyme-specific inhibitors. The Colormetric COX (ovine)Inhibitor screening assay (#760111, Cayman Chemical) can be used toanalyze the effects of each of the active ingredients, any one of thecombination of ingredients, or compositions having said combinationsdisclosed in the specification on the activity of purified cyclooxygnaseenzyme (COX-1 or COX-2). According to manufacturer instructions,purified enzyme, heme and test extracts can be mixed in assay buffer andincubated with shaking for 15 min at room temperature. Followingincubation, arachidonic acid and colorimetric substrate can be added toinitiate the reaction. Color progression can be evaluated bycolorimetric plate reading at 590 nm. The percent inhibition of COX-1 orCOX-2 activity can be calculated compared to non-treated controls todetermine the ability of test extracts to inhibit the activity ofpurified enzyme.

Lipoxygenase (LO) Assay: An in vitro lipoxygenase (LO) inhibition assay.LOs are non-heme iron-containing dioxygenases that catalyze the additionof molecular oxygen to fatty acids. Linoleate and arachidonate are themain substrates for LOs in plants and animals. Arachadonic acid may thenbe converted to hydroxyeicosotrienenoic (HETE) acid derivatives that aresubsequently converted to leukotirenes, potent inflammatory mediators.This assay provides an accurate and convenient method for screeninglipoxygenase inhibitors by measuring the hydroperoxides generated fromthe incubation of a lipoxygenase (5-, 12-, or 15-LO) with arachidonicacid. The Colorimetric LO Inhibitor screening kit (#760700, CaymanChemical) can be used to determine the ability of each of the activeingredients, any one of the combination of ingredients, or compositionshaving said combinations disclosed in the specification to inhibitenzyme activity. Purified 15-lipoxygenase and test ingredients can bemixed in assay buffer and incubated with shaking for 10 min at roomtemperature. Following incubation, arachidonic acid can be added toinitiate the reaction and mixtures incubated for an additional 10 min atroom temperature. Colorimetric substrate can be added to terminatecatalysis and color progression was evaluated by fluorescence platereading at 490 nm. The percent inhibition of lipoxyganse activity can becalculated compared to non-treated controls to determine the ability ofeach of the active ingredients, any one of the combination ofingredients, or compositions having said combinations disclosed in thespecification to inhibit the activity of purified enzyme.

Elastase Assay: EnzChek® Elastase Assay (Kit #E-12056) from MolecularProbes (Eugene, Oreg. USA) can be used as an in vitro enzyme inhibitionassay for measuring inhibition of elastase activity for each of theactive ingredients, any one of the combination of ingredients, orcompositions having said combinations disclosed in the specification.The EnzChek kit contains soluble bovine neck ligament elastin that canbe labeled with dye such that the conjugate's fluorescence can bequenched. The non-fluorescent substrate can be digested by elastase orother proteases to yield highly fluorescent fragments. The resultingincrease in fluorescence can be monitored with a fluorescence microplatereader. Digestion products from the elastin substrate have absorptionmaxima at ˜505 nm and fluorescence emission maxima at ˜515 nm. Thepeptide, chloromethyl ketone, can be used as a selective, collectiveinhibitor of elastase when utilizing the EnzChek Elastase Assay Kit forscreening for elastase inhibitors.

Oil Control Assay: An assay to measure reduction of sebum secretion fromsebaceous glands and/or reduction of sebum production from sebaceousglands can be assayed by using standard techniques known to those havingordinary skill in the art. In one instance, the forehead can be used.Each of the active ingredients, any one of the combination ofingredients, or compositions having said combinations disclosed in thespecification can be applied to one portion of the forehead once ortwice daily for a set period of days (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or more days), while another portion of the foreheadis not treated with the composition. After the set period of daysexpires, then sebum secretion can be assayed by application of fineblotting paper to the treated and untreated forehead skin. This is doneby first removing any sebum from the treated and untreated areas withmoist and dry cloths. Blotting paper can then be applied to the treatedand untreated areas of the forehead, and an elastic band can be placedaround the forehead to gently press the blotting paper onto the skin.After 2 hours the blotting papers can be removed, allowed to dry andthen transilluminated. Darker blotting paper correlates with more sebumsecretion (or lighter blotting paper correlates with reduced sebumsecretion.

Erythema Assay: An assay to measure the reduction of skin redness can beevaluated using a Minolta Chromometer. Skin erythema may be induced byapplying a 0.2% solution of sodium dodecyl sulfate on the forearm of asubject. The area is protected by an occlusive patch for 24 hrs. After24 hrs, the patch is removed and the irritation-induced redness can beassessed using the a* values of the Minolta Chroma Meter. The a* valuemeasures changes in skin color in the red region. Immediately afterreading, the area is treated with the active ingredients, any one of thecombination of ingredients, or compositions having said combinationsdisclosed in the specification. Repeat measurements can be taken atregular intervals to determine the formula's ability to reduce rednessand irritation.

Skin Moisture/Hydration Assay: Skin moisture/hydration benefits can bemeasured by using impedance measurements with the Nova Dermal PhaseMeter. The impedance meter measures changes in skin moisture content.The outer layer of the skin has distinct electrical properties. Whenskin is dry it conducts electricity very poorly. As it becomes morehydrated increasing conductivity results. Consequently, changes in skinimpedance (related to conductivity) can be used to assess changes inskin hydration. The unit can be calibrated according to instrumentinstructions for each testing day. A notation of temperature andrelative humidity can also be made. Subjects can be evaluated asfollows: prior to measurement they can equilibrate in a room withdefined humidity (e.g., 30-50%) and temperature (e.g., 68-72° C.). Threeseparate impedance readings can be taken on each side of the face,recorded, and averaged. The T5 setting can be used on the impedancemeter which averages the impedance values of every five secondsapplication to the face. Changes can be reported with statisticalvariance and significance. Each of the active ingredients, any one ofthe combination of ingredients, or compositions having said combinationsdisclosed in the specification can be assayed according to this process.

Skin Clarity and Reduction in Freckles and Age Spots Assay: Skin clarityand the reduction in freckles and age spots can be evaluated using aMinolta Chromometer. Changes in skin color can be assessed to determineirritation potential due to product treatment using the a* values of theMinolta Chroma Meter. The a* value measures changes in skin color in thered region. This is used to determine whether each of the activeingredients, any one of the combination of ingredients, or compositionshaving said combinations disclosed in the specification is inducingirritation. The measurements can be made on each side of the face andaveraged, as left and right facial values. Skin clarity can also bemeasured using the Minolta Meter. The measurement is a combination ofthe a*, b, and L values of the Minolta Meter and is related to skinbrightness, and correlates well with skin smoothness and hydration. Skinreading is taken as above. In one non-limiting aspect, skin clarity canbe described as L/C where C is chroma and is defined as (a²+b²)^(1/2).

Skin Dryness, Surface Fine Lines, Skin Smoothness, and Skin Tone Assay:Skin dryness, surface fine lines, skin smoothness, and skin tone can beevaluated with clinical grading techniques. For example, clinicalgrading of skin dryness can be determined by a five point standardKligman Scale: (0) skin is soft and moist; (1) skin appears normal withno visible dryness; (2) skin feels slightly dry to the touch with novisible flaking; (3) skin feels dry, tough, and has a whitish appearancewith some scaling; and (4) skin feels very dry, rough, and has a whitishappearance with scaling. Evaluations can be made independently by twoclinicians and averaged.

Clinical Grading of Skin Tone Assay: Clinical grading of skin tone canbe performed via a ten point analog numerical scale: (10) even skin ofuniform, pinkish brown color. No dark, erythremic, or scaly patches uponexamination with a hand held magnifying lens. Microtexture of the skinvery uniform upon touch; (7) even skin tone observed withoutmagnification. No scaly areas, but slight discolorations either due topigmentation or erythema. No discolorations more than 1 cm in diameter;(4) both skin discoloration and uneven texture easily noticeable. Slightscaliness. Skin rough to the touch in some areas; and (1) uneven skincoloration and texture. Numerous areas of scaliness and discoloration,either hypopigmented, erythremic or dark spots. Large areas of unevencolor more than 1 cm in diameter. Evaluations were made independently bytwo clinicians and averaged.

Clinical Grading of Skin Smoothness Assay: Clinical grading of skinsmoothness can be analyzed via a ten point analog numerical scale: (10)smooth, skin is moist and glistening, no resistance upon dragging fingeracross surface; (7) somewhat smooth, slight resistance; (4) rough,visibly altered, friction upon rubbing; and (1) rough, flaky, unevensurface. Evaluations were made independently by two clinicians andaveraged.

Skin Smoothness and Wrinkle Reduction Assay With Methods Disclosed inPackman et al. (1978): Skin smoothness and wrinkle reduction can also beassessed visually by using the methods disclosed in Packman et al.(1978). For example, at each subject visit, the depth, shallowness andthe total number of superficial facial lines (SFLs) of each subject canbe carefully scored and recorded. A numerical score was obtained bymultiplying a number factor times a depth/width/length factor. Scoresare obtained for the eye area and mouth area (left and right sides) andadded together as the total wrinkle score.

Skin Firmness Assay with a Hargens Ballistometer: Skin firmness can bemeasured using a Hargens ballistometer, a device that evaluates theelasticity and firmness of the skin by dropping a small body onto theskin and recording its first two rebound peaks. The ballistometry is asmall lightweight probe with a relatively blunt tip (4 square mm-contactarea) was used. The probe penetrates slightly into the skin and resultsin measurements that are dependent upon the properties of the outerlayers of the skin, including the stratum corneum and outer epidermisand some of the dermal layers.

Skin Softness/Suppleness Assay with a Gas Bearing Electrodynamometer:Skin softness/suppleness can be evaluated using the Gas BearingElectrodynamometer, an instrument that measures the stress/strainproperties of the skin. The viscoelastic properties of skin correlatewith skin moisturization. Measurements can be obtained on thepredetermined site on the cheek area by attaching the probe to the skinsurface with double-stick tape. A force of approximately 3.5 gm can beapplied parallel to the skin surface and the skin displacement isaccurately measured. Skin suppleness can then be calculated and isexpressed as DSR (Dynamic Spring Rate in gm/mm).

Appearance of Lines and Wrinkles Assay with Replicas: The appearance oflines and wrinkles on the skin can be evaluated using replicas, which isthe impression of the skin's surface. Silicone rubber like material canbe used. The replica can be analyzed by image analysis. Changes in thevisibility of lines and wrinkles can be objectively quantified via thetaking of silicon replicas form the subjects' face and analyzing thereplicas image using a computer image analysis system. Replicas can betaken from the eye area and the neck area, and photographed with adigital camera using a low angle incidence lighting. The digital imagescan be analyzed with an image processing program and are of the replicascovered by wrinkles or fine lines was determined.

Surface Contour of the Skin Assay with a Profilometer/Stylus Method: Thesurface contour of the skin can be measured by using theprofilometer/Stylus method. This includes either shining a light ordragging a stylus across the replica surface. The vertical displacementof the stylus can be fed into a computer via a distance transducer, andafter scanning a fixed length of replica a cross-sectional analysis ofskin profile can be generated as a two-dimensional curve. This scan canbe repeated any number of times along a fix axis to generate a simulated3-D picture of the skin. Ten random sections of the replicas using thestylus technique can be obtained and combined to generate averagevalues. The values of interest include Ra which is the arithmetic meanof all roughness (height) values computed by integrating the profileheight relative to the mean profile height. Rt which is the maximumvertical distance between the highest peak and lowest trough, and Rzwhich is the mean peak amplitude minus the mean peak height. Values aregiven as a calibrated value in mm. Equipment should be standardizedprior to each use by scanning metal standards of know values. Ra Valuecan be computed by the following equation: R_(a)=Standardize roughness;l_(m)=the traverse (scan) length; and y=the absolute value of thelocation of the profile relative to the mean profile height (x-axis).

MELANODERM™ Assay: In other non-limiting aspects, the efficacy of eachof the active ingredients, any one of the combination of ingredients, orcompositions having said combinations disclosed in the specificationcompositions can be evaluated by using a skin analog, such as, forexample, MELANODERM™. Melanocytes, one of the cells in the skin analog,stain positively when exposed to L-dihydroxyphenyl alanine (L-DOPA), aprecursor of melanin. The skin analog, MELANODERM™, can be treated witha variety of bases containing each of the active ingredients, any one ofthe combination of ingredients, or compositions having said combinationsdisclosed in the specification or with the base alone as a control.Alternatively, an untreated sample of the skin analog can be used as acontrol.

All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein canbe made and executed without undue experimentation in light of thepresent disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this inventionhave been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will beapparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied tothe compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence ofsteps of the method described herein without departing from the concept,spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will beapparent that certain agents which are both chemically andphysiologically related may be substituted for the agents describedherein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All suchsimilar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in theart are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A method of treating a person's skin, the method comprising topicallyapplying to the skin a composition comprising: an extract of Opuntiaficus-indica; water; caprylic/capric triglyceride; glycerin;Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter; ammonium acryloyldimethyltaurate/vpcopolymer; butylene glycol; ethylhexylglycerin; tocopherol or tocopherylacetate; disodium EDTA; sodium hydroxide; caprylyl glycol; andHelianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the composition moisturizes the skin.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the skin is dry skin.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises bergamot oil, rose oil, jasmine oil, ylangylang oil, and sandalwood oil.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thecomposition further comprises an aloe vera extract.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the composition brightens the skin.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the composition protects the skin from environmentaldamage.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the environmental damage iscaused by pollution.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the extract ofOpuntia ficus-indica is from Opuntia ficus-indica nopales.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the composition is an emulsion.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the emulsion is an oil-in-water emulsion.12. The method of claim 1, wherein the extract of Opuntia ficus-indicais from Opuntia ficus-indica tuna.
 13. The method of claim 1, whereinthe composition is a cream.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein thecomposition remains on the skin for 5 minutes to 20 minutes and is thenrinsed off the skin.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the compositionis a mask.
 26. The method of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises0.0001 wt. % to 5 wt. % of the extract of Opuntia ficus-indica.
 17. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the extract of Opuntia ficus-indica is anaqueous extract of Opuntia ficus-indica.